The $1.2 Billion Network Megadeal: Why Accenture Just Bought Speedtest and Downdetector
The tech landscape just witnessed a massive acquisition in the network intelligence space. IT and consulting giant Accenture has officially agreed to purchase the Connectivity division of Ziff Davis for a staggering $1.2 billion in cash.
If you've ever checked to see if your internet was lagging or if your favorite social media platform was down, you've relied on these tools. The deal includes Ookla, the company behind the universally recognized Speedtest app, as well as the popular outage tracker Downdetector. The package also brings enterprise-focused brands Ekahau and RootMetrics under the Accenture umbrella.
Here is a breakdown of why this billion-dollar deal happened and what it means for the future of the internet's favorite testing tools.
What Exactly is Accenture Buying?
Accenture isn't just buying a couple of high-traffic websites; they are acquiring a massive, globally scaled trove of network data.
Ookla & Speedtest: Ookla's platform handles over 250 million consumer-initiated network tests every single month.
Downdetector: The internet's go-to source for crowdsourced outage reporting.
Ekahau & RootMetrics: Ekahau specializes in Wi-Fi network design and troubleshooting, while RootMetrics focuses on real-world cellular performance analytics.
The AI and Enterprise Angle
Why does an IT services firm want these consumer-facing tools? The answer, unsurprisingly, ties directly back to Artificial Intelligence and enterprise infrastructure.
Accenture plans to integrate Ookla's vast telemetry data into its own service offerings. The goal is to help Communications Service Providers (CSPs), hyperscalers, and large enterprises optimize their mission-critical 5G and Wi-Fi networks. According to Accenture's leadership, this end-to-end network intelligence is essential for "AI-based transformation," allowing organizations to identify network incidents faster, validate hardware upgrades, and build reliable data foundations.
A Massive Win for Ziff Davis
For Ziff Davis, this cash deal represents a massive realization of value. The media company originally acquired Ookla back in 2014.
In 2025, the Connectivity division generated $231 million in revenue, which accounted for roughly 16% of Ziff Davis's total revenue. The company plans to use the $1.2 billion proceeds for general corporate purposes and capital allocation in accordance with its debt agreements. With the connectivity brands sold off, Ziff Davis will be able to refocus its efforts on its core vertical media sites like IGN and Mashable.
What Does This Mean for Everyday Users?
If you are just an everyday user who wants to check if your ISP is throttling your download speeds or if a server is actually down, you probably won't notice an immediate difference. These services are expected to continue functioning as they always have for consumers.
However, the real innovation will happen behind the scenes on the enterprise side. Moving forward, expect Accenture to leverage this network benchmarking data to build premium dashboards, optimization tools, and consulting services for telecom and cloud giants.
